#LauraNero

[vickiabelson]

Jimmy Vivino Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 

It had been six long, 4 1/2 COVID years since last I sat down with my old friend, multi-instrumentalist, producer, composer, and long-time musical director for Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Vivino. It was like coming home. Almost the same age, we have many shared (unbeknownst to us at the time) memories of concerts at The Filmore East, Watkins Glen, the glory daze of the NY club scene, and a bounty of mutual friends. Talk about being in one’s comfort zone. 

Jimmy talked growing up in New Jersey, his carpenter trumpet-playing father, his talented brothers, Jerry and Floyd, and how they began and evolved - he talked Conan, Laura Nyro, Phoebe Snow, Donald Fagen, John Sebastian, Al Kooper,  Levon Helm, The Allman Brothers, Albert King, Tom Petty, Prince, Bruno Mars, Michael McDonald, Johnny Johnson, Hubert Sumlin,  Stevie Wonder, Muddy Waters, Pinetop Perkins, John Sebastian, The Dead, The Band, Harry Shearer, Paul Shaffer, whom he credits as his mentor, Leader of the Pack,  Broadway, Ronnie Spector, Felix Cavaliere, The Rascals, Frankie Valli, Slash, Sly Stone, The J. Geils Band, Elvis Costello, and the James Brown and Friends Set Fire To The Soul with Aretha, Robert Palmer, and Joe Cocker, that he orchestrated. Incredible stories all around, and this special is available on YouTube… wow - Snuff and I just watched it. Spectacular.

We talked about COVID and Jimmy joining Canned Heat, currently touring with them, and Bill Murray, as well as still doing shows with Will Lee and The Fab Faux. His first all-original album, Gonna Be 2 of Those Days, is due to drop in February, signed copies are available for pre-sale at jimmyvmusic.com He treated us to a track to close the show.

Life is busy, busy. busy… just the way Jimmy likes it. And so do we who follow and adore him. I so enjoyed every second of this. Jimmy needs to write a book and get all these stories down. He knows and has played with everyone. Such fun! 

Jimmy Vivino Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 

Wednesday, 12/11/24, 5 PM PT, 8 PM ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

[vickiabelson]

Today, Live with multi-instrumentalist, producer, composer, and long-time musical director for Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Vivino. Co-founder with our great friend, Will Lee, of The Fab Faux, Jimmy and I go back to the mid-80s NY club scene... he never played a gig for me, but his brother, Uncle Floyd, did. I’m pretty sure Jimmy sat in at least once or twice.  

A forever fan of this monster guitar/keyboard-playing singer, Jimmy has also recorded and played live with Johnnie Johnson, Hubert Sumlin, Levon Helm, and Al Kooper. Earlier in his career, Jimmy got his start producing, playing, and arranging for artists such as my beloved friend Phoebe Snow, a shero, Laura Nyro, Donald Fagen, and John Sebastian. I was blessed to see him and John duet about 6 years ago in a killer show and fabulously fun post-concert hang. 

Jimmy's upcoming LP, Gonna Be 2 of Those Days,  includes tracks with Joe Bonamassa and John Sebastian and is available for preorder at jimmyvmusic.com

The last time Jimmy joined us here on GC, he regaled us with story after story of music legends and heroes and schooled me on American music and the blues. He also played and sang 🤞I can’t wait for more! 

Jimmy Vivino Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 

Wednesday, 12/11/24, 5 PM PT, 8 PM ET

Streaming Live on my Facebook

WednesDaily by Toni Vincent & @peter_and_paul_ Cartoons